ricochet

1 of 2

noun

ric·​o·​chet ˈri-kə-ˌshā 

 British also  -ˌshet

: a glancing rebound (as of a projectile off a flat surface)

the ricochet of the bullet off the wall

also : an object that ricochets

He was hit by a ricochet.

ricochet

2 of 2

verb

ricocheted ˈri-kə-ˌshād  also ricochetted ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd  ; ricocheting ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ  also ricochetting ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ 

intransitive verb

: to bounce or skip with or as if with a glancing rebound

The bullet that hit President Reagan had ricocheted off the presidential limousine.

—David Fisher

The ball ricochets at a right angle, falling with force into the first baseman's glove …

—Bob Drury

The chute snaps open, the sound ricocheting through the gorge like a gunshot, and McGuire is soaring, carving S turns into the air, swooping over a winding creek.

—Karl Taro Greenfeld

Synonyms

Verb

• bounce
• carom
• glance
• rebound
• skim
• skip

Examples of ricochet in a Sentence

Noun

He was hit by a ricochet.

the ricochet of the bullet off the wall

Verb

The bullet ricocheted off the wall.

the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, Edmonton cut its deficit to two goals with a score by Philip Broberg (courtesy of a ricochet off Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola) with 13:58 left in the game and scored again with 5:17 left in the third period when a shot from Kulak deflected off Ryan McLeod. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2024

Events often seem to speed up right before the collapse, as falling confidence ricochets through the elite. —Daniel Treisman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2022

Verb

With Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson facing a 2-2 count in the top of the fourth inning, Astros reliever Shawn Dubin bounced a 90 mph changeup in front of home plate that ricocheted off Barry’s mask. —C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2024

When the storm passes onto land, the wave rocks against the shore and ricochets back toward Chicago. —Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

First Known Use

Noun

1740, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1804, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ricochet

1 of 2 noun

ric·​o·​chet ˈrik-ə-ˌshā 

 British also  -ˌshet

1

: a bouncing off at an angle (as of a bullet off a flat surface)

2

: an object that ricochets

ricochet

2 of 2 verb

ricocheted

-ˌshād

also ricochetted

-ˌshet-əd

; ricocheting

-ˌshā-iŋ

also ricochetting

-ˌshet-iŋ

: to bounce off at an angle